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Page 365
melee. Whatever happened, she did not wish to give him the satisfaction of seeing her distress. Also, if the worst happened, she would need a clear mind to plan what to do. A few hours of sleep would be a great help.
In the end, Alinor had more sleep than she expected or intended. At last, however, a half-recognized sound disturbed her, and she woke with a start to an empty bed. Terror seized her. ''Ian!" she shrieked, leaping out into the room.
"Alinor!" Ian exclaimed.
And William of Salisbury, who had just closed the door behind himthat being the sound that had wakened Alinorpolitely turned his back.
"I beg your pardon," Alinor gasped, retreating hastily to the shelter of the bedcurtains, where she drew on her bedrobe.
"You need not," Salisbury replied with a grin. "So lovely a sight can never offend."
"Lovely," Alinor laughed, quickly gathering up her hair and plaiting it. "All unkempt as I am, I must look like a witch."
"Madam, if witches looked like that, I could be easily reconciled to the unholy brood."
"Stop trying to seduce my wife right in front of my face," Ian said with amusement. "Draw up a chair and join me. I am sorry to tell you to serve yourself, but my knee will not serve me."
Despite the complaint, Alinor's spirits lifted as she looked at her husband. The gray pallor of exhaustion was gone, his eyes were bright, but normally so, and, best of all, he had already consumed what appeared to be a massive meal and seemed to have every intention of eating still more. True, his movements were stiff and, Alinor guessed, painful, although his expression gave no evidence of it. Nonetheless, Alinor was reasonably sure that once his muscles were warmed by activity, they would serve him faithfully. Salisbury's ap-

 
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